Major shifts in calcareous phytoplankton assemblages through the Eocene-Oligocene transition of Tanzania and their implications for low-latitude primary production

Abstract

A high-resolution record of exceptionally well preserved calcareous nannofossil assemblages from Tanzania is marked by two key transitions closely related to the climatic events of the Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT). The first transition, at 34.0 Ma, precedes the first positive shift in d18O and coincides with a distinct interval of very low nannofossil abundance and a cooling in sea surface temperatures (SST). The second, at 33.63 Ma, is immediately above the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (EOB) and is associated with a significant drop in nannofossil diversity. Both transitions involve significant reductions in the abundance of holococcoliths and other oligotrophic taxa. These changes in calcareous phytoplankton assemblages indicate (1) a widespread and significant perturbation to the low-latitude surface ocean closely tied to the EOB, (2) a potential role for reduced carbonate primary production at the onset of global cooling, and (3) a significant increase in nutrient availability in the low-latitude surface ocean through the EOT.